Three people killed in skydiving tragedy

UPDATE: SKYDIVE Australia has issued a statement after this afternoon's tragedy at Mission Beach.

"Three people have died after sustaining injuries from a skydiving accident in Far North Queensland," the company said.

"The incident happened at Mission Beach, south of Cairns, this afternoon.

"One of the deceased, a highly experienced instructor who had completed thousands of jumps, was completing a solo jump.

"The other two were jumping as a tandem pair: a highly experienced instructor and a customer.

"Skydiving operations have been suspended at Mission Beach while the appropriate authorities conduct an extensive investigation.

"The Company extends its deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the individuals and families involved and the broader skydiving community."

UPDATE: THREE people have died after a horror skydiving incident at Mission Beach this afternoon.

Emergency services were called after 3pm to Alexander Drive following reports three people had suffered critical injuries.

The Cairns Post reports that the area where the three were found has since been declared a crime scene.

It is understood one of the victims was found by a resident in their back yard, where the skydiver was later pronounced dead by paramedics.

The two others were located soon after where they had become entangled in a nearby tree.

The man and woman were also both pronounced dead.

Police on the scene of the skydiving tragedy at Mission Beach. Picture: Chris Holmes, Innisfail Advocate

Queensland Police have confirmed that the victims were two men in their 30s and a woman in her 50s.

Police say initial investigations suggest a solo skydiver may have collided with tandem skydivers in mid-air, with their parachutes failing to deploy correctly.

Queensland Ambulance Service operations supervisor Neil Noble said paramedics were called to two separate scenes about 3.30pm.

"We had a report of a skydiver who had been found in the garden at a residence in Mission Beach," he said.

"Paramedics attended to the scene and unfortunately his injuries were so severe that he was declared deceased at the scene.

"Shortly thereafter, we received another report of another two skydivers that had been found close by and unfortunately their injuries were equally fatal and they were also declared deceased at the scene.

"This is such a tragic event to have occurred in this community."

Two highly experienced skydiving instructors were among those killed in the tragedy.

A spokesman for Skydive Australia said the company extended its "deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences" to those involved as well as their families and the skydiving community.

"One of the deceased, a highly experienced instructor who had completed thousands of jumps, was completing a solo jump," he said.

"The other two were jumping as a tandem pair: a highly experienced instructor and a customer.

UPDATE: AN eyewitness who watched the skydive tragedy unfold said he could do nothing but watch as a skydiver dropped towards the earth.

"I watched it unfold," the man, who did not wish to be named, told The Cairns Post.

"You could see one chute was tangled and it wasn't opening.

"I was just watching him in free fall until he went behind the trees, and that was the last I saw."

The witness said it appeared the skydiver did not activate a backup parachute after the first one failed.

"I don't understand how three people could have died, unless someone was trying to catch them," he said.

"I could understand two, maybe, but not three.

"Unless maybe it was two chutes tangled together that I saw.

"I didn't see anyone near them, but they were at a fairly high altitude so maybe a collision happened further up."

He said the mood in town was sombre as residents came to terms with what had happened.

"It wasn't good to watch. I had my heart in my mouth," he said.

A police incident tent was set up on Alexander Drive, Mission Beach in Far North Queensland after three people were killed while skydiving. Pic: CHRIS HOLMES, INNISFAIL ADVOCATE

A police spokeswoman said it was believed a solo skydiver may have collided with tandem skydivers in midair with their parachutes failing to deploy correctly.

"Two men in their 30s and a woman in her 50s were located deceased at the scene," she said.

"Police investigators and other agencies remain at the scene.

"No further details are available at this stage."

UPDATE: Police have declared a crime scene at the area where three skydivers have died at Mission Beach.

It is understood one of the victims was found by a resident in their backyard where he was later pronounced dead by paramedics, the Cairns Post reports.

The two others were located soon after where they had become entangled in a nearby tree.

The man and woman were also both pronounced dead.

The trio are all aged in their 30s and 40s.

A police spokeswoman said a crime scene had been set up and specialist officers including the Forensic Crash Unit, detectives and scientific officers were being called to the scene.

The area is believed to be a sparsely populated area near the Clump Point jetty turn-off and is understood to be some distance from the normal landing zone for skydivers.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Division 3 Councillor Wayne Kimberley has described the incident as a "terrible tragedy".

EARLIER: THREE people have died after a horror skydiving incident at Mission Beach this afternoon.

Emergency services were called after 3pm to Alexander Drive following reports three people had suffered critical injuries, the Cairns Post reports.

It is understood the incident involves two men and a woman and at least one of the group is an instructor.